Federal Inmate Sentenced to Seven Months for Possession of Contraband Cell Phone

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal inmate pled guilty to possession of a contraband cell phone at the Low Security Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina (“LSCI Butner”) and was sentenced to seven months in prison for the charge.  The seven-month term of imprisonment is in addition to, and consecutive to, his current term of imprisonment.

According to court documents, Antoine Stanfield, 42, an inmate previously housed at LSCI Butner at the time of the offense, was found in possession of a cell phone during a visual search by Federal Bureau of Prisons staff.  The officer ordered Stanfield to turn over the contraband cell phone, at which time Stanfield attempted to destroy it.  Inmates inside federal prisons are not permitted to possess cell phones, as they can compromise the safety and security of the institution by allowing inmates to have unmonitored communications with the outside community, which could provide inmates the opportunity to conduct further criminal activity.

Stanfield’s conviction for possession of a contraband cell phone also makes him ineligible to earn time credits under the First Step Act, which allows federal inmates to earn up to 365 days off of their sentence for participating in eligible programming while incarcerated. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement following sentencing by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Richard E. Myers II.  The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00122-M-KS.